Student Veterans in Higher Education: A Transitional Challenge

More than 2.6 million troops have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001.2 As these service members return to civilian life, many become students to build upon the skills they have learned in their military training and service, and prepare for the civilian job market. Over one million veterans received Veterans Affairs Educational Benefits in 2013 through the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill3 and with an increasing volume of service members separating from the military, the number of educational beneficiaries is expected to reach two million before 2020.4 Student veterans face many difficult challenges integrating into higher education. Having lived a regimented life in the military, veterans often find that their new lives as college students are vastly different. During military service, all instructions are given, for instance, and Community Investments, Winter 2014/2015 – Volume 26, Number 3 29 seldom do service members question those orders. In contrast, college students typically have no strict schedule, the ability to question authority, a great deal of independence, and no orders. The challenges faced by the nontraditional group of veteran students, therefore, given such a change in their environment are important to address and understand.